Fangda Partners has steadily risen from its Shanghai roots to become a national powerhouse in China, and it has also earned a first-class reputation in the Beijing and Guangdong market.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm has hundreds of lawyers with expertise in a number of transactional practice areas, with prominent strength in M&A, banking and finance, capital markets and investment funds work.
Key clients
The firm’s key clients include Bank of China, Export-Import Bank of China, China Development Bank, China Construction Bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Ping An Bank, Asian Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, China Resources Microelectronics, Blackstone, Boyu Capital, Carlyle and CICC Capital.
Research period review: 33rd edition (2022/2023)
Fangda’s team is active in providing capital markets legal services. In late 2022, the firm advised Kingsoft Cloud, China’s leading cloud service provider, on its successful dual-primary listing by way of introduction on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Fangda also assisted Kingsoft Cloud on its listing on the NYSE in 2020.
Fangda also represented the joint sponsors, CICC and CCB International in OrbusNeich Medical Group Holdings’ listing in Hong Kong.
Last year, Fangda handled M&A transactions for both domestic and foreign companies. Highlighted cases include advising Kirin Holdings in its sale to Plateau Consumer of its 40% stake in a joint venture established with China Resources. After that, Kirin will exit the JV, while it will continue part of its business partnership with China Resources. The deal is significant in food and beverage sectors, and it is also a typical case of foreign capital exiting from previously PRC state and privately owned joint ventures.
The team also represented China Mobile Capital Holding in its subscription of the 2022 private placement of China Eastern Airlines. The non-public offering was taken up by 20 investors including China Mobile and the total amount raised of the placement was about Rmb15 billion.
The Fangda team shows their deep understanding in restructuring and insolvency cases. During the research cycle, the firm has been advising on the bankruptcy of CEFC International Group Shanghai as a joint administrator, which involves cross-border insolvency issues. For now, the team has applied, and the court has ruled, 79 subsidiaries and affiliates enter the consolidated procedure.
One highlighted case is that the Fangda team advised on the reorganisation of Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Offshore as a joint administrator, the debt claims amount to $2.5 billion. The team assisted the firm in insurance compensation, identifying executory contracts and selling offshore platforms. This is the first bankruptcy reorganisation case of tens of billion that succeeds without investors in China.
Last year, the firm hired Henry He, who specialises in M&A and the healthcare industry, as a partner.
Deal highlights: 33rd edition (2022/2023)
China Eastern Airlines’ A-shares non-public offering.
Kingsoft Cloud’s secondary listing.
OrbusNeich Medical Group Holdings’ HKSE IPO.
Chongqing Hongjiu Fruit’s HKSE IPO.
Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Offshore’s reorganisation.
Client feedback: 33rd edition (2022/2023)
M&A
“They lead the drafting and negotiation as the deal counsel. Sound knowledge of both tech and finance, good at identifying issues and providing balanced approach.”
Investment funds
“Professional, responsive, resourceful.”
Financial services regulatory
“Very professional, knowledgeable and insightful.”
Capital markets
“Valuable experience in the debt market, good network, excellent communication skills with clients with different background, responsive and diligent services.”
Insolvency
“The team represented by Ji Nuo has a high educational level and strong professional ability. More importantly, they have a strong sense of social responsibility and outstanding humanistic feelings. They not only handle bankruptcy cases effectively, but also contribute a lot to the field of legislative amendment and professional research.”
Lawyer feedback: 33rd edition (2022/2023)
Raymond Chan
“Managed the deal well.”
Tianyi Chen
“Smart and responsive, and good with management of fees.”
Christina Fu
“Very professional, knowledgeable and insightful. Thorough work, sharp mind.”
Christine Chen
“Christine has in-depth knowledge and experience in advising sophisticated international issuers on local law issues. By providing practical and thoughtful solutions to complicated or tricky legal issues in the course of bond issuance, Christine has gained our deep trust and respect. Her advice and constant contribution are immensely helpful to the successful execution of cutting-edge debt offering transactions."
Nuo Ji
“He has organised a high-level team, handled a large number of major bankruptcy cases, maintained close cooperation with universities, and cultivated many young legal talents. During his term as president of Shanghai Lawyers Association, he promoted the development of lawyers and the improvement of the system, and also contributed a lot of professional wisdom to the reform and improvement of China's bankruptcy legal system.”
